Lowe Leaves Game After Getting Hit By Line Drive

Around the Bases

April 11, 2005

Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Derek Lowe was hit in the right arm by 2B Craig Counsell's line drive and left Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The ball hit just above Lowe's elbow in the triceps area and X-rays were negative. He was listed as day-to-day. Lowe, who signed a $24 million, three-year contract with the Dodgers, was scheduled to fly to Boston after the game to be part of today's World Series ring ceremony. Lowe won three games for the Red Sox in the 2004 postseason.

PRIOR THROWS 30 PITCHES, BUT CUBS MUM ON RETURN

RHP Mark Prior threw 30 pitches off the Wrigley Field mound Sunday morning, but the Chicago Cubs weren't ready to say whether he will start Tuesday against San Diego. Cubs Manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Larry Rothschild said they will make a decision today. Prior has been on the disabled list because of elbow inflammation.

DODGERS PUT PEREZ ON DL, CALL UP NAKAMURA

The Dodgers placed INF Antonio Perez on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and called up INF Norihiro Nakamura from Class AAA Las Vegas. Perez was injured leaving the batter's box during the Dodgers' 8-7 victory Friday night. He stayed in the game but his condition worsened during the contest, Manager Jim Tracy said. That game was the utility infielder's first major-league start. Nakamura, whose contract was purchased from Las Vegas, was one of the Dodgers' final roster cuts. Nakamura joins a major-league team for the first time after 13 seasons with Osaka of the Japanese Pacific League.

BLUE JAYS ACTIVATE LILLY; OPTION GROSS

The Toronto Blue Jays activated LHP Ted Lilly from the 15-day disabled before his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox. Lilly didn't pitch in any spring training games because of shoulder tendinitis. Last year, Lilly went 12-10 with a 4.06 ERA. To make room, the Blue Jays optioned OF Gabe Gross to Class AAA Syracuse. Gross went hitless in six at-bats, but hit .385 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs in spring training.

SMOLTZ TIES HIS ATLANTA RECORD WITH 15 STRIKEOUTS

RHP John Smoltz tied his own Atlanta Braves record with his 15th strikeout in the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the New York Mets. Smoltz also struck out 15 on May 24, 1992, against Montreal. After giving up a two-run homer to CF Carlos Beltran in the eighth inning, Smoltz left the game trailing 2-1. He gave up eight hits and two runs with no walks. The Braves' all-time franchise record for strikeouts in a game is 18 by Warren Spahn in 15 innings for the Milwaukee Braves against Chicago on June 14, 1952.

OLIVER SIGNS ON WITH DIAMONDBACKS

LHP Darren Oliver agreed to a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Oliver will work out at the team's minor-league complex in Tucson and join the Class AAA Sidewinders when they return from a road trip on Friday. The 34-year-old pitcher was released from his minor-league contract by the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

MARINERS PUT MADRITSCH ON 15-DAY DISABLED LIST

Seattle placed LHP Bobby Madritsch on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left shoulder. An MRI performed Saturday revealed a tear in the capsule ligament in Madritsch's left shoulder. Madritsch's shoulder will be in a sling for three weeks and he will not be allowed to throw.

REPORT: CLEMENTE'S SON ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS

Roberto Clemente's oldest son said he unknowingly took steroids from a trainer in Puerto Rico while rehabbing a knee injury in the minor leagues during the 1980s. Roberto Clemente Jr. told the New York Daily News he met Luiz Perez after undergoing a second operation for chronic pain in his right knee in 1987 while with the San Diego Padres organization. Perez told Clemente Jr. he needed to start taking B-12 injections, along with steroids, testosterone and androstendione to help increase his strength. Clemente Jr., who was 6 years old when his Hall of Fame father died in a plane crash in 1972, estimates he got about 150 shots and he added 20 pounds of muscle.